Drug dose blunder by doctor almost killed mum who was recovering from a stroke

SYLVIA LYNN was give a dose of a blood-thinning drug that was five times higher than required as she recovered from a stroke in Glasgow’s Western Infirmary, and the terrified mum said 'I thought I was going to die'.

A MUM is lucky to be alive after being given a potentially lethal dose of medication.

A nurse injected Sylvia Lynn with 25,000 micrograms of blood-thinning drug Heparin – five times higher than required.

The 47-year-old was given the accidental overdose while recovering from a stroke in Glasgow’s Western Infirmary last month.

Sylvia, from Hardgate, Dunbartonshire, who has since been released from hospital, said yesterday: “I thought I was going to die.

“I’m just so glad to be here because there aren’t many people who get to tell this story. That’s the sad thing.”

Her daughter Skylar, 24, yesterday told how she got a call from her mum telling her to come to the hospital straight away with her dad and brother, Ricky.

A doctor then told the family about the overdose – and said it could be fatal.

Skylar said: “He said it was human error, these things happen. But when you’re dealing with someone’s life there’s no room for error.”

A spokeswoman for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde apologised for the mistake and said the health board would investigate.

She said: “While the worst-case scenario was explained to that patient, staff were vigilant throughout the monitoring process to ensure immediate action would be taken to prevent any deterioration in her condition.”